Quercus hirtifolia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Quercus hirtifolia |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Quercus
|
| Species: |
hirtifolia
|
The Quercus hirtifolia, also known as the hairy-leaved oak, is a very rare type of oak tree. It has only been found in a small part of Mexico. This special tree lives in the southern Sierra Madre Oriental mountains. You can find it in northern Puebla and eastern Hidalgo states in east-central Mexico.
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
The Quercus hirtifolia is usually a large shrub or a small tree. It can grow up to 7 meters (about 23 feet) tall. Sometimes, it can even reach 9 meters (about 30 feet) in height.
Where Does It Live?
This unique oak tree is native to the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range. It lives in small groups that are separate from each other. These groups are found at high elevations, between 1600 and 2450 meters (about 5,250 to 8,040 feet) above sea level.
Its Forest Homes
The hairy-leaved oak prefers to live in certain types of forests. It grows in humid oak-pine forests, which are damp and have both oak and pine trees. It also lives in cloud forests, which are forests often covered in mist and clouds. Sometimes, it can be found in conifer forests, which are full of cone-bearing trees like pines.
Its home range is quite small. The actual area where these trees live, called the area of occupancy (AOO), is about 128 square kilometers (about 49 square miles). The total area that covers all the places where it has been found, called the extent of occurrence (EOO), is about 3,700 square kilometers (about 1,428 square miles).
Why Is It Endangered?
The Quercus hirtifolia is an Endangered tree. This means it is at a high risk of disappearing forever. Its habitat, or the place where it lives, is shrinking. The quality of its forest home is also getting worse.
Threats to Its Survival
The main dangers to this tree are:
- Deforestation: Forests where the oak lives are being cut down. People clear the land to create pastures for farm animals or for growing crops.
- Illegal logging: Some people cut down trees without permission. This harms the forests and the Quercus hirtifolia.
- Climate change: The Earth's climate is changing. This is expected to reduce the amount of cloud forest habitat. Scientists predict that about 45% of cloud forests in the Sierra Madre Oriental could be lost by the year 2080. This would leave even less suitable space for the hairy-leaved oak to live.
See also
In Spanish: Quercus hirtifolia para niños
